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Found in Translation

The award is presented annually for the best translation of Polish literature into English in book form in the past year. This is to honour the work of translators, who make it possible for Polish literature to reach English-language readers and, in the long-term, a wider audience – a translation into English often paves the way for publication in other languages. 

The award was established in 2008. It is awarded by the Chapter, which consists of representatives of all its three founders: the Book Institute, the Polish Institute in London and the Polish Institute in New York. The head of the Chapter is the Director of the Book Institute. 

The winners of the award to date have been: 

  • Bill Johnston, for his translation of poems by Tadeusz Różewicz (2008) 
  • Antonia Lloyd-Jones, for her translation of Paweł Huelle’s The Last Supper (2009) 
  • Danuta Borchardt, for her translation of Witold Gombrowicz’s Pornography (2010) 
  • Clare Cavanagh and Stanisław Barańczak, for their translation of Wisława Szymborska’s poetry volume Here (2011) 
  • Joanna Trzeciak, for her translation of Tadeusz Różewicz (2012) 
  • Antonia Lloyd-Jones, for the whole of her output in the year preceding the award (2013) 
  • Philip Boehm, for his translation of Hanna Krall’s Chasing the Queen of Heart (2014) 
  • Ursula Phillips, for her translation of Zofia Nałkowska’s Choucas (2015) 
  • Bill Johnston, for his translation of Tomasz Różycki’s Twelve Stations (2016) 
  • Piotr Florczyk, for his translation of Anna Świrszczyńska’s Building the Barricade (2017) 
  • Jennifer Croft, for her translation of Olga Tokarczuk’s Flights (2018) 
  • Madeline G. Levine, for her translation of Bruno Schulz’s Collected Stories (2019) 
  • Anna Zaranko, for her translation of Kornel Filipowicz’s Memoir of an Anti-Hero (2020) 
  • Ewa Małachowska-Pasek and Megan Thomas, for their translation of Tadeusz Dołęga-Mostowicz The Career of Nikodem Dyzma (2021) 
  • Jennifer Croft for her translation of Olga Tokarczuk’s The Books of Jacob (2022) 
  • Anna Zaranko for her translation of Władysław Reymont’s Peasants (2023) 
  • Alissa Valles for her translation of Zuzanna Ginczanka’s poems (2024) 
  • Mira Rosenthal for her translation of Tomasz Różycki’s Letters (2025) 
  • Ursula Phillips for her translation of Ice by Jacek Dukaj (2026)

Application deadline: call closed; next call in January 2027.

How to apply?

Applications for the award should contain the title of the book, the name of the author and translator, the name of the publishing house and the justification. These should be sent to: m.rutkowska@instytutksiazki.pl.

The winner’s name will be announced during the award ceremony, which takes place in the winner’s country of origin. Candidates for the award can be nominated by physical persons and legal persons in Poland and abroad.

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